Midcoast Forum on Foreign Relations

3 Articles from Ambassador Lawrence Butler

Posted on Friday June 28 2024

“NATO Ready for Battle, but Lacks Stamina, Report Finds,” by Laura Heckman, National Defense, June 11, 2024.

Since NATO’s adoption of a “back to the future” strategy at its Madrid Summit two years ago on the heels of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the alliance has made significant strides toward forward defense and deterrence, and a recent report said the alliance is prepared for war — as long as it’s short…

To continue reading, click here. 

“Nato’s Washington summit will need to tackle Russian sabotage and myriad security threats,” by Alexander Gilder, The Conversation, June 26, 2024.

The leaders of Nato member states will meet in Washington DC in a few weeks and one of the topics of discussion will be how to tackle escalating incidents of Russian sabotage. Ahead of the summit on July 9-11, there has been increased Russian intelligence activity across Nato member states. The Dutch National Security Agency warned that it is possible Russia has orchestrated various arson and sabotage attacks in the UK, Poland, Sweden and Germany…

To continue reading, click here. 

“The Global War on Terror and Diplomatic Practice,” by Larry Butler, The Foreign Service Journal, September, 2021.

Twenty years ago, jetliners crashing into New York City’s twin towers and the Pentagon shocked America out of its post–Cold War complacency, ushering in the global war on terror (GWOT) and a surge in international support for the United States. A senior State Department official, Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security Francis X. Taylor, speaking to the American Bar Association in late 2002, answered a question on how long the war on terror would last: “As long as it takes. Years, maybe decades…”

To continue reading, click here.